PORT CHARLOTTE, FL – A man with a prior conviction for manslaughter faces multiple felony charges after authorities say he assaulted a pregnant woman during an argument at a Port Charlotte home last week.
Jonathan Webster, 38, was arrested August 14 on charges that include aggravated battery on a pregnant woman, domestic battery by strangulation, tampering with a witness, resisting an officer without violence, and being a fugitive from justice. Law enforcement officials allege Webster attacked the woman following a heated dispute over dinner and her demeanor.
According to the arrest affidavit, the pregnant woman told deputies the altercation began in the kitchen of a residence the two had recently moved into with several family members. During the confrontation, Webster allegedly pressed his fingers against her head while shouting, escalating to grabbing and pulling her hair on both sides of her head as tensions grew.
Family members attempted to pull Webster and the woman apart, but he reportedly broke free, grabbed her hair again, and dragged her into a hallway. The woman armed herself with a knife in an effort to keep him at bay. She was able to temporarily distance herself, but the conflict quickly resumed.
When the victim tried to retreat to her bedroom, Webster followed and placed her in a headlock, choking her for roughly 30 seconds. The woman told law enforcement that she was unable to breathe and briefly lost consciousness during the assault.
Webster allegedly warned the woman not to get up after the attack. At one point, she told deputies that he mentioned retrieving a gun. While she believed she saw him with a black handgun, he did not display it or threaten her directly with the weapon, according to her account.
As the confrontation moved to a bathroom and then spilled outside, the woman called 911. Webster reportedly followed, grabbed her by the hair once more, and forcibly took the phone from her, smashing it on the ground and breaking the device.
Deputies arriving on the scene allegedly found Webster still pulling the woman’s hair as if attempting to drag her across the street. Officers ordered him to stop, at which point he complied.
Investigators spoke with both the victim and witnesses, who provided accounts aligning with the woman’s version of events. The incident reportedly began with Webster striking the expectant mother’s face with his fingers shaped like a “finger gun” after their argument escalated.
Authorities later used K-9 units and additional deputies to search the neighborhood. Webster was located on foot near Emerald Avenue and Arrow Street, not far from the home where the incident occurred.
Officials noted that Webster is currently on probation related to a manslaughter conviction in Louisiana, adding to the seriousness of the new allegations. He is scheduled to appear in court for arraignment on September 22.